Missoula Police Interrupt Meth Deal, Two Arrested After Foot Chase

Missoula Police took two suspects into custody on Friday night, July 6, after a call came in of a suspected drug deal.

"Officers received information of a drug deal in progress occurring in the 2000 block of South Avenue West," said Missoula Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh. "Two officers responded to that location and, as they did so, one of the officers observed a vehicle matching the description that started to leave the parking lot as the police officer pulled in. As the officer approached, the passenger in the vehicle jumped out and fled on foot."

The officer approached the driver and called out an alert to other patrol vehicles for the runner.

"The driver identified himself as 45-year-old Brian Anthony, a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed that he was in possession of dangerous drugs," Welsh said. "Other officers notified the initial officer that they had located the male who had fled on foot a short distance away near the intersection of West Sussex and Eaton street, that individual was identified as 26-year-old Jonathan VanDeventer."

Welsh says an investigation is still underway as to whether VanDeventer and Anthony were selling or buying the drugs, which turned out to be methamphetamine. Both received felony drug charges, but VanDeventer also received a misdemeanor obstruction charge for the failed escape attempt.